Wave of unrest shakes Syria, crowds torch party HQ

DAMASCUS, (Reuters) – Crowds set fire to the  headquarters of the ruling Baath Party in the Syrian city of  Deraa today, residents said, as the wave of unrest in the  Arab world shook even one of its most authoritarian states.
The demonstrators also set ablaze the main courts complex  and two phone company branches. One of the firms, Syriatel, is  owned by President Bashar al-Assad’s cousin Rami Makhlouf.
“They burned the symbols of oppression and corruption,” an  activist said. “The banks nearby were not touched.”
Thousands rallied to demand an end to 48 years of emergency  law in the southern city, on the third consecutive day of  protests emerging as the biggest ever challenge to Syria’s  ruling party since it seized power nearly half a century ago.
“No, no to emergency law. We are a people infatuated with  freedom,” marchers chanted, despite the arrival in Deraa of a  government delegation to pay condolences to relatives of victims  killed by security forces in demonstrations there this week.
Security forces fired tear gas at the protesters. Around 40  people were taken to be treated for gas inhalation at the main  Omari mosque in the old city, residents said.
“The mosque is now a field hospital. The security forces  know they cannot enter the old city without spilling more  blood,” one resident said.
Syria has been under emergency law since the Baath Party,  which is headed by president Bashar al-Assad, took power in a  1963 coup and banned all opposition.
Makhlouf is under specific U.S. sanctions for what   Washington regards as public corruption and has been a target of  protesters chanting “thief”. He owns several large businesses.